Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-10-23
WOMAN'S DEPARTMENT
EDITED BY BELLE MEADE SMITH.
Wonnn,s Exchange.

The Woman's Exchange of the
Flower Festival Society, is an institu
ton of which the ladies of Los Angeles
have abundant reason to feel proud
1t is situated on Fourth street near
Main. make this statement because
comparatively few persons know where
it is, or what it is while large ma
jority OF our population have an i'm
preston that it either is, or is in some
way, identified with Mrs. Watson's
Home, which is an entirely different
affair. The building occupied bv the
Woman's Exchange is well arranged
and commodious. 1t contains thirty
six sleeping apartments and several
large bath rJms. All of the cham
bers are tastefully furnished, and
are sunshiny and cheerful. On
cne side of the wide hall which di-
>ides the first floor, is a handsome re-
ception room, in which ar to be found
an upright piano, well-selected IL
brary and a number Of periodicals.
The reception room opens into an in
yiting dining-room, in the rear of
which is an admirably conducted
kitchen. On the second floor, a
pleasant sitting room, in which are
placed several good sewing machines,
affords a delightful opportunity to the
boarders to sew and chat OF evenings,
or on days when they are unemployed.
The entire house is well-kept and in
perfect order, and reflects much credit
upon the housekeeper, Mrs. Macln-
tyre. Indeed, there is only one thing
to regret about the house, and that is
that it is not twice the size it is. as it
is always filed to overhowing, and yet
is unable to accommodate one-half OF
the women who wish to make
it their home. The fam
lily. for such it really is,
is composed of store girls, sewing
girls, etc. The board is moderate,
but is quite enough to make every
woman in the house feel thoroughly
independent. Almost, if not all OF
the boarders are strangers in strange
city where, if it was not for the EX-
change, they would be without home
or friends. There are no regulations
or requirements, except those which
society imposes upon every household;
yet, the moral atmosphere is so pure
and the home.feeling is so complete
that in the Exchange girls are as
much protected as though they were
hedged in by parental care, and old
and intimate associations. Perhaps,
if the unfortunate Woolsteen sisters
had sought the shelter Of this home.
instead OF drifting out all alone and all
unrestrained by themselves, the one
would not to-day be held to
answer to the double charges
of murder and suicide, and the
other would not be being inter-
viewed by reporters and police. Mrs.
Wheeler, wife of the late Professor
Wheeler, of the University OF South
ern California, has been induced to
accept the business management Of
the organization. 1t is needless to say
that by SO doing she has insured the
success Of this department. She is
beloved by all of the boarders, and IS
relied upon by the society, which
thoroughly appreciates her rare quail
fications. On the first floor there is
also a room for the display and sale of
every variety of work done by women:
1t is beautifully arranged and is filed
with fine specimens of needle and
fancy work, canned fruits, preserves
and pickles. The showroom, or as it
might more properly be called, the
art department, is in charge OF Mrs.
Wheeler's assistant, an agreeable
Young lady, who takes the utmost
pains to exhibit to advantage,
the rugs and tides, the embroi-
deries and the paintings on china and
silk, deposited for sale. 1t is difficult
to think OF anything useful or pretty
that is not to be found in this display.
But speciality seems to have been
made, either accidentally or purpose
lv, of children's wares. Skirts and
shirts, caps and socks, and every
other article required to make up the
baby's wardrobe, and done in every
color and every stitch, are here offered
to tempt mammas and grandmas and
aunties to open their purses on behalf
of the autocrats OF the nursery. Be
sides all this, the Exchange has an
employment agency, where, by regis
tering the name and address and de-
posting twenty-five cents, ladies can
secure girls and girls can secure
places. Both Mrs. Wheeler and her
assistant endeavor to advance the
interests OF the parties who thus APP
DIV to them, and as they have
q better opportunity of understand
ing and OF entering into the
peculiar merits of each particular case
than any mere business organization
can have, women either seeking help
or work could not do better than to
place their caHse in the hands of the
Exchange. In conclusion, want to
saw that, although come from Phila-
delphia, which is everywhere famous
for it's benevolent organizations, and
that although have visited innumer-
able institutions OF similar character,
have never before entered Home
which felt that, if was alone in the
world, l should be glad to make my
own. This do, and as want to see
it enlarged and extended to its utmost
capacity, feel impelled to urge the
women OF Los Angeles to give it their
encouragement and support. Every
woman anxious to help herself should
try to deposit something for sale at
the Exchange, while those who have
money to spend should freely spend ii
here.
Mothers who Live.
well.executed wood cut of John